The Bank Employees Union (Etyk) brought the operations of National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) to a halt over a labour dispute concerning two managers brought in from Greece, which the union says should head back home, while the Bank insists that according to EU rules it is allowed to employ them in Cyprus.

The strike action at Ethniki was made Tuesday despite the mediation effort by the Ministry of Labour to break the impasse.

The two sides tabled their proposals and arguments before the Ministry Mediation Officer Marios Avraamides, who nevertheless was not able to find a commonly acceptable compromise.

Etyk is insisting that the two managers brought from Greece should leave, while it has allowed a third person to stay. Etyk said that NBG initially requested and received union approval to bring the managers here, but now says that since they have completed their tasks and since they cost more than double what a Cypriot would earn, then they should go.

Etyk Chairman Loizos Hadjicostis said the strike action will be stopped, “only when the two leave.”

Ethniki argues that based on EU Directive 96/71/1996 with respect to employment of staff, it is fully entitled to employ the two persons and does not violate collective agreements.

The Bank Employees Union (Etyk) brought the operations of National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) to a halt over a labour dispute concerning two managers brought in from Greece, which the union says should head back home, while the Bank insists that according to EU rules it is allowed to employ them in Cyprus.

The strike action at Ethniki was made Tuesday despite the mediation effort by the Ministry of Labour to break the impasse.

The two sides tabled their proposals and arguments before the Ministry Mediation Officer Marios Avraamides, who nevertheless was not able to find a commonly acceptable compromise.

Etyk is insisting that the two managers brought from Greece should leave, while it has allowed a third person to stay. Etyk said that NBG initially requested and received union approval to bring the managers here, but now says that since they have completed their tasks and since they cost more than double what a Cypriot would earn, then they should go.

Etyk Chairman Loizos Hadjicostis said the strike action will be stopped, “only when the two leave.”

Ethniki argues that based on EU Directive 96/71/1996 with respect to employment of staff, it is fully entitled to employ the two persons and does not violate collective agreements.

The strike it is not because the two managers are not Cypriot citizens it is because the Bank did not get the union's OK to renew their contract for a third 6 month period. As the union leader said last night on the radio they would have done the same even if those employees were Cypriot citizens. They argue that the union's OK has to come when cotnractors take up managerial positions straight away.